Goa: Police detain CJP supporter Mohammad Danish for glorifying Umar Khalid in the name of ‘student protests’

A man carrying a
Goa Police detain man carrying 'Free Umar Khalid' placard (Image via X and HT)

A protest linked to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement in Goa has drawn attention after Goa Police detained a man who was carrying a placard reading “Free Umar Khalid” during a solidarity gathering in Panaji. The incident took place on Saturday evening, 25th July, at Azad Maidan, where people had assembled to express support for the ongoing CJP protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and to mark the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

According to the police, the gathering was underway at around 7 pm, with protesters raising slogans, when officers noticed one participant carrying a placard that read, “Free Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Bhima Koregaon 16.” The display immediately attracted attention, and police intervened to question the individual. The detained accused is identified as Mohammad Danish

Police questioned man after he failed to produce an ID

A police officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the man was first confronted by some local journalists present at the venue. Police personnel stationed at Azad Maidan then asked him to identify himself and produce a valid identity document.

“Some local media persons confronted the man carrying the placard. The police personnel, who were stationed at Azad Maidan for the protest, questioned the man and asked him to produce an identity document (ID). The man said he was not carrying an ID,” the officer said.

Police said that to prevent any law-and-order problem, they took the man to the Panaji Police Station for questioning. A video circulating on social media also appears to show a police officer asking him to produce an identity card.

The incident led to further political reactions. Several workers of the BJP Yuva Morcha (BJYM) staged a sit-in outside the Panaji Police Station, demanding that a criminal case be registered against those displaying “Free Umar Khalid” placards during the protest.

FIR already registered over unauthorised CJP solidarity march

The latest incident comes just days after Goa Police registered an FIR against “unknown supporters” of the CJP and other “protesters” over an earlier solidarity march held in Panaji.

According to the police, hundreds of people had gathered near Miramar Circle on Monday evening and marched to Azad Maidan in support of the protests taking place at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Police later alleged that the organisers had held the demonstration without obtaining prior permission from the authorities.

Umar Khalid’s role in 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots

Former JNU student Umar Khalid and son of an ex-SIMI member, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on 14th September 2020 in connection with the 2020 anti-Hindu Delhi riots case. He was booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Investigating agencies have found that he was among the prime accused involved in a larger conspiracy behind the violence that erupted in northeast Delhi in February 2020, in which 53 people lost their lives.

According to the Delhi Police’s investigation, Khalid had mobilised the Muslims to run riots, block roads and harass the public, by asserting that the new law was ‘against Muslims’ and had also planned to involve women and children in the ‘Chakka Jam’ amid the visit of US President Trump to India. The police have also revealed that he met former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and co-accused Khalid Saifi to discuss logistical arrangements and that he maintained links with organisations under investigation. Khalid has denied the allegations against him and has consistently maintained that he is innocent.

He had also repeated Pakistani talking points in Kashmir and claimed that the Indian Union territory was occupied by Indian forces.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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